Why I work at UB: The Students

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290x195-brad-fisher-jesse-alton2I’ve had the opportunity to follow our Entrepreneurship Fellows this semester. I have gone to their classes and a site visit to a local organization. These six talented entrepreneurs came to UB for a different kind of business education, but this post isn’t about them (that will have to wait).

This post is about why I work at UB — and the Entrepreneurship Fellows validated it again this week — it is the students.

They are fascinating. They are working hard in their own little niche to do great things, just like all of our students.  It is our students’ no-nonsense, focused-approached that I love the most. But it is one comment that one of the Fellows said to me that has stuck out in my mind. He said, “I love when you come to our class.”

You know what — I love coming to that class too. It is great to see the next generation of business leaders and innovators walk the hallways of the Merrick School. I certainly hope I can make it to more of the b-school’s classes more frequently. I want to learn about what makes our students so unique, because at the end of the day I love working at UB because of them.

D anielle Giles is the Director of Communications for the Merrick School of Business (dgiles@ubalt.edu)

Where Did the Summer Go?

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Here we are a week before the new semester begins and I’m asking myself that inevitable question—where did the summer go?

For the Merrick School staff and administrators we’ve been around campus finalizing fall classes, reviewing and updating processes, scheduling events and global field studies as well as saying good-bye to our dean, Darlene Smith.

The new academic year that begins Aug. 28, is already slated to be exciting. In a few days we should hear who will be appointed as interim dean of the Merrick School of Business. This person will lead us through the next year while a nationwide search takes place for Dean Smith’s successor. After an extensive vetting process that will include many of our constituent’s voices, the president will select a new permanent dean. He/she will be in place by July 2014.

More news

New for undergraduates this year are mid-term progress reports. These reports will help undergraduates determine how they are doing academically in any given class. All mid-term progress reports are due by Oct. 13. Look in your class syllabus for more details on how this will work.

At the beginning of each semester it is a good idea review the Merrick School of Business Code of Conduct information and Student Handbook. Take time to familiarize yourself with the expectations set forth for instructors and students.

As soon as the semester begin, you’ll be busily adding project due dates and test dates to your calendar, but here are a few key dates that you might want to add to enhance your education and keep on track. These and other events are available on our website.

Aug. 28 – Classes begin (and start looking for a 2014 spring/summer internship)
Sept. 4 – Business Honors Networking Reception
Sept. 9 – Open House for the 2014 Global Field Study and Summer Exchange Opportunities (Chile, London, Switzerland and Berlin)
Sept. 11 – Accounting Career Fair
Sept. 19 – Merrick Speaker Series Featuring Sheila Bair, Former FDIC Chairwoman
Sept. 25 – Career Exploration with Local Business Leaders
Sept. 26 – Business Pitch Contest for UB Students – Sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Sept. 27 – Start Up Maryland Bus Tour Comes to UB – Sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Enjoy the fall semester and before you know it — it will be winter break.

Marilyn Oblak, Acting Dean of the Merrick School of Business

Upcoming Events Hosted by UB Student Clubs

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From time to time, student groups on campus ask that we help promote their meetings and events.  I thought that I’d share some upcoming events with you via the Merrick Today blog.

The UB Real Estate Law Association has a three-part speaker series coming in February focused in Issues in Real Estate Development. These are free events followed by a catered mix and mingle.

February 4th at 5 p.m. – Join lawyers Jon Laria, Stanley Fine, and Joe Woolman as they discuss legal issues considered by the Baltimore Development Workgroup Steering Committee.

February 11th at 5 p.m. –  Join Senior E.P.A. attorney Phil Page as he discusses E.P.A. Brownfields Redevelopment Laws and what the laws mean for local and regional development.

February 11th at 5 p.m. -  Observe a panel discussion by MD Bar Real Property Section Council Lawyers on legal issues in Real Estate Development in Maryland and practicing Real Estate law.

All of the events for this series will be located on the UB Student Center’s, 5th Floor in the Wright Theater

The Masters of Public Administration Student Association (MPA Student Association) will host the National Forum for Black Public Administrators’ (NFBPA) Annual Business Meeting.

This event is a networking opportunity and an avenue for professional development for students and faculty alike. Our guest speakers for this meeting are The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Mayor, and Stacy L. Rodgers, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, Baltimore MD.

All those interested in attending must R.S.V.P to MPASA@ubalt.edu by February 12, 2013, at close of business.

 

 

 

 

 

Inclement Weather Related Protocols

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This message was recently sent to the University of Baltimore campus. During this time of year, information on UB’s inclement weather related protocols is helpful.

From the desk of Samuel D. Tress, Chief, University Police

From time to time, the weather, power outages and other factors will play a role in the daily life of the UB campus. Especially during the winter months, road conditions or the sudden onset of a storm can compel the campus to change its operating schedule or close down completely. An emergency can occur at any time of day or night, and our goal is to keep you informed and up to date.

Official university closing announcements can be found at:

  • University’s text messaging system;
  • University’s e-mail system;
  • University’s Web page; and
  • Emergency Notification line at 410.837.4201
  1. If you do not see or hear an official announcement, you can assume that the UB campus is open and operating under a normal schedule.  Media announcements are NOT official university notifications.
  2. We also urge you to sign up for UB’s EMERGENCY TEXT ALERT SYSTEM.  It’s easy, and it’s free to join. (Make sure you opt-in for the weather alert portion of the system.) Your participation in this automated system allows the UB POLICE DEPARTMENT to more effectively and efficiently handle situations that frequently arise during emergency situations.

Emergency Closing Announcements Page

Lessons from My Meeting with The Oracle Of Omaha, Warren Buffett

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Last month UB alumnus and Merrick School of Business advisory board member Chip Lewis posted an interesting piece about his meeting with Warren Buffett.  I thought it would be great to share it with the Merrick Today audience.

Read Lessons from My Meeting with The Oracle Of Omaha, Warren Buffett.

Danielle Giles, Director of Communications, Merrick School of Business.

Make Your Destiny

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On Oct. 8 the UB Real Estate and Economic Development program will host a ‘Lessons from Legends’ event featuring Thomas Bozzuto a local real estate developer and entrepreneur. The premise of the ‘Legends’ events are for our students to learn through conversation; not lectures or speeches.  It’s an informal dialog with questions and answers in a dynamic learning environment.

As I was preparing for the Bozzuto’s appearance I was reviewing Tom Bozzuto’s career achievements and ran across his blog. He happened to publish a post that I found useful for my first post on the Merrick Today blog.

In a post dated August 2011, he referenced the company received the Washington Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” recognition. He wrote “that the award means the most because we received it as a result of our employees’ votes.”

Think about it. Imagine working for a company whose employees applauded the leadership and the culture that they voted it as a great place to work.  Finding that place might take a few hits and misses. For example the September 18, 2012 U.S. Labor Department’s Employee Tenure Summary indicated that the median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.6.

You do the math. Finding that great place to work is not easy and might take a few years to get it right.

Here are some ideas to help you find that great place to work before you graduate.

  • Attend career fairs. Hopefully you made it to the one on  campus yesterday.
  • Obtain an internship for money or not; for-credit or not.
  • Push yourself academically. Join the Denit Business Honors Program or Accounting Honors Program.
  • Dress the part. You can’t go wrong with professional attire.
  • Informational interviews through the Savor UB—a program linking student with UB alumni.
  • Attend a company’s information session like the one coming up for Booz Allen (Oct. 24) and T. Rowe Price (Oct. 31). Email me if you want details about these at ljoyce@ubalt.edu.
  • Attend extra-curricular events like the Merrick Speaker Series or Lessons from Legends or student clubs like honor societies or academic-focused organizations.
  • Seek out industry-specific associations.
  • Take advantage of programs like ‘The Power of Networking’ event and the ‘Developing your Action Plan’ sponsored by UB’s Career and Professional Development Center.

No matter what you do. Do what Nike says “Just Do It.”  Don’t sit on the sideline, make your destiny. You just might find your dream job in less than 4.6 years.

Leslie Joyce is the Associate Director of Development and External Relations for the Merrick School of Business.

Five Weeks and Counting

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Wow! How can it be that we have already completed five weeks of classes? Well I hope that your semester is going well.

I can tell you that the semester rhythm is in full force and the “hits keep on coming.” One big one for us: The University of Baltimore received a top-25 U.S. News ranking for being one of the region’s best public universities. Of course, it’s great to get the recognition of others, but there’s one element that those surveys can’t measure: the enthusiasm of the people here at UB. From you, our students, to our faculty and staff and of course our alumni; it’s the people who make UB a unique institution.

You know what else makes us unique? We try harder: In the last five weeks the Merrick School has offered more events and opportunities for learning than ever I can remember. And there are more to come. Here’s a quick recap of few of the big things that have happened since the semester got underway:

  • We invited all of our honors-eligible students to a reception to learn how the Denit Business Honors Program and the Accounting Honors program can help them get a leg up in their career search. We also shared with the group our new Mentors Program. We had wonderful attendance, great conversations and strong interest for the program.
  • We held our Open House for the 2013 Global Field Study experiences. This year, Prof. Dennis Pitta is taking students to Peru, Dean Darlene Smith is taking students to Brazil, and Prof. Jerry Yu will take students to China and Taiwan. That’s a lot of air miles! If you want to travel abroad for a Global Field Study experience next year, visit the web page dedicated to the various courses. The paperwork for Peru is due Sept. 28, and the other destinations’ paperwork is coming up quickly too.
  • On Sept. 13, we had our first Merrick School of Business Speaker Series event for the fall, featuring Paula Kerger, B.S. ’79, president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting System. She spoke passionately about the ways nonprofits can make a difference in our society and the challenges of business ventures that are tied to the nonprofit’s mission.
  • If you were on campus on the morning of Sept. 20, you couldn’t have missed the big charter bus wrapped in the Maryland state flag. That was the Startup Maryland ‘Pitch Across Maryland’ bus, which has been touring the state looking for the best venture pitch ideas. Six of UB’s finest entrepreneurs offered up their ideas and competed twice – once for the Pitch Across Maryland competition and another for the Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s $1,000 top prize. The winner of the CEI top prize was Isaac Schleifer, who delivered a convincing presentation for his idea that will help nonprofit organizations in their fundraising efforts. The runners-up also each got a $250 prize, which was funded by alumnus Len Attman.

That was a busy September! Just you wait until October (and November). Here’s what’s coming up:

  • Oct. 4 –  UB 2012 Business Career Fair from 3-6 p.m. in the Business Center atrium.
  • Oct. 8 -  Lessons from Legends in Real Estate featuring real estate developer Thomas Bozzuto. (free)
  • Oct. 10 – Merrick School of Business Speaker Series featuring Jon Gertner, author of The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation. 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center. (free to currently enrolled students)
  • Oct. 12 – UB Retirement Plan Summit presented by the Merrick School of Business and Raymond James. 7:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m. in the Business Center (free and open to the public)
  • Oct. 16 and 17 – MGMT 330 Networking Event
  • Oct. 17 – Mentee Orientation

As we head into mid-terms and the busy holiday season, take a minute to contemplate the many ways that the Merrick School of Business is helping our students put their best foot forward, whether it’s in the classroom or on the way to a job interview. We really do try harder, because we know our students do, too. So, study hard, do great work, and enjoy the good times coming up later this fall. Catch you next time!

Danielle Giles, Director of Communications, Merrick School of Business.

Our Campus is Full of Doers, Not Talkers

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Thumb through the September 2012 issue of Baltimore Magazine and you’ll run across the above advertisement for the University of Baltimore. I really like this line: “Our campus is full of doers, not talkers.” It’s so-o-o true: Just ask the 51 UB students who submitted an entry for the Start Up Maryland business pitch competition.

I can attest that we have a campus full of doers. The business pitches were submitted not just by business students, but students from the School of Law, College of Public Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences. The entrepreneurial spirit, “the doers, not the talkers,” are walking around this campus ready to launch the next new business or nonprofit. Their can-do attitude is what makes this University great, and what is transforming Baltimore into a town with a new economy already up and running.

Good luck to all the students who submitted a pitch. The judges are now critiquing the submissions and narrowing the competitors down to just six or seven pitches. One of these pitches will earn a student $1,000 to help launch their business, all thanks to funding from our Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

And there’s more news on the business ideas front: In addition to competing against their peers here at UB, the students will have to compete against business pitches from companies across the state as part of Start Up Maryland’s “Pitch Across Maryland” bus tour. On Sept. 20, the big, bright bus will arrive on campus filled with venture capitalists and VIPs. The UB competitors will climb on the bus one by one, and have about five minutes to pitch their concept for a new business. No pressure!

Outside the bus, the UB campus will rally behind them, cheering them on just like other campuses rally around their football teams. There’s going to be food, T-shirts and a lot of enthusiasm to help these doers win. Come on out, too – things get under way at about 10:30 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m.

I hope to have a big turnout of students, faculty, staff and alumni for the bus tour stop. It will be a great day for our UB doers, on and off the bus.

Danielle Giles, Director of Communications, Merrick School of Business.

Pitching Isn’t Just for the O’s

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Fall is an exciting time at the Merrick School.  Students are back on campus, a new semester brimming with opportunity is underway, and an entrepreneurial spirit is taking over the campus. 

The Merrick School’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) is hosting Startup Maryland’s Pitch Across Maryland Bus Tour and Business Pitch Competition on Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m.  The tour and competition celebrate entrepreneurship and bring focus to the diverse businesses and cultures across the state….and at UB!. 

The response from the emerging entrepreneurs on the UB campus has been overwhelming.  More than 50 students across the campus – undergraduate, graduate and law – have submitted their venture pitches and are vying for 6 coveted pitch slots for the tour and the grand prize of $1,000 prize to the best UB pitch! 

As dean and an alumna, I am very proud to showcase our UB talent.

 

Darlene Smith, Dean of the Merrick School of Business

Beta Alpha Psi Gets Noticed

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A big ‘thank you’ goes out to Beta Alpha Psi’s president and UB accounting major Colin Rau for sending us the news that the UB chapter of the honor society got mentioned in a MACPA (Maryland Assocaition of CPAs) blog post. Colin and his fellow club members George Wisniewski, Jr, Felix Xu, Sharon Lucas, Melvina Ferrer and Maria Gomozova, attended the association’s 2012 Innovation Summit this summer and they made a great impression on the accounting professionals in attendance.

Colin was quoted in the blog as saying:

“We got to network with professionals who are working in the industry. Everyone who was sitting at our tables was a CPA or a partner who has experience in the field, and everyone had great advice for us throughout the day. You see the enthusiasm that CPAs have for their profession, you get their insight, and you really soak that in. You realize that it’s about more than sitting in an intermediate accounting class. … It’s about leadership and being involved in the profession. It’s not just about debits and credits.”

Awesome job BAP! You’ve made us proud.

You can read the entire MACPA blog post titled, “The Best Lessons Aren’t Found in a Book,” here.

Beta Alpha Psi is a national honor society with a  goal to encourage and recognize scholastic and professional excellence in the fields of accounting, finance and information systems.

Beta Alpha Psi is also recognized by  the Rosenberg Center for Student Involvement. To learn more visit the BAP webpage on CSILink.
Danielle Giles, Director of Communications, Merrick School of Business.